Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

In the Capital@@novelbin@@

“Achoo!” The old emperor sneezed violently.

Empress Dou looked surprised. “Have you caught a cold?” She quickly called for a court physician.

The emperor waved his hand. “It’s nothing, just an itch in my nose.”

He calculated the time and said, “That brat should have arrived in Fujian by now. I wonder what he’s doing. He’s never handled disaster relief before, so he must be running around like a headless chicken.”

Empress Dou couldn’t help but laugh.

What kind of emperor delights in his subjects’ misfortune?

Princess Wanshou thought Xu Yanmiao was excellent in every way, except that he always seemed to say what he really thought about others.

—He wasn’t aware that his innermost thoughts could be overheard.

Liang Rui cleared his throat. “So, you are Prefect Gao?”

He introduced himself and Xu Yanmiao in turn.

When the Prefect of Xinghua heard that Liang Rui was a Principal Officer of the Ministry of Justice, his smile faded somewhat. “A pleasure to meet you, Principal Officer Liang.”

Upon learning that Xu Yanmiao was a ninth-rank clerk from the Ministry of Personnel, his attitude cooled further. “Ah, so you are Clerk Xu.”

As a fourth-rank official, the Prefect held a rank significantly higher than a sixth-rank principal officer, let alone a ninth-rank clerk.

It was likely that this Prefect was inwardly wondering why the court had sent only a Minister of high rank, while the rest were such low-ranking officials.

—The Princess didn’t count, of course. Her title alone overshadowed everything. Thus, the Prefect remained extremely enthusiastic toward her.

Liang Rui was fully aware of the Prefect’s lukewarm attitude toward them, but he didn’t feel insulted. After all, who didn’t want to climb the ladder? The man hadn’t committed any wrongdoing; he was simply reserved. Returning the courtesy, Liang Rui asked about the disaster relief efforts. Prefect Gao responded in a methodical manner, clearly demonstrating his hands-on involvement.

Liang Rui’s impression of him improved.

After a brief conversation, the Prefect excused himself, explaining that he needed to make preparations for relief efforts. Once he had departed, Liang Rui couldn’t help but express some admiration in his tone. “There are still people willing to do real work these days.”

Princess Wanshou nodded. “Indeed. Do you know how this Prefect Gao lost his eye?”

Liang Rui’s interest was piqued. “How?”

The princess sighed, seemingly moved. “He was once an Assistant Minister. Years ago, during a drought, the emperor banned alcohol production in the affected area. A certain prefect then began to harass the locals, even finding brewing equipment in one household and attempting to impose harsh penalties, including the death sentence, to make an example of them. Prefect Gao argued with the prefect, insisting that simply possessing brewing tools didn’t prove guilt. The prefect, losing the argument, invoked the emperor’s authority and asked, ‘Are you defying the imperial will? And who will guarantee that this family never intended to brew alcohol?’”

[Wait, what? Is this even true? Let me check!]

Liang Rui’s eyebrows twitched. “And then?”

Princess Wanshou spoke with admiration. “Our Prefect Gao suddenly gouged out one of his own eyes, declaring, ‘I offer this eye as a guarantee for them.’ Later, an investigation revealed that the equipment had been stored in the cellar for over three years, the lock covered in dust. They hadn’t brewed alcohol for ages but had simply neglected to clear out the cellar. It is said that an imperial censor, upon learning of this act, was deeply moved and recommended him for the position of Prefect of Xinghua.”

Liang Rui was visibly moved. “What an indomitable spirit this man has…”

[Bullshit! That’s just the story he spread to boost his reputation! He gouged out his eye to curry favor with his superior!]

Liang Rui’s words got stuck in his throat, unable to finish his sentence. He nearly choked from the shock, his expression turning stiff, and his pupils trembling slightly.

Curry favor with a superior? What does that even mean?

Xu Yanmiao had never been one to keep things to himself.

The young man’s gaze drifted, appearing vacant to the others, but in truth, he was staring at something invisible to them, his eyes widening in astonishment.

[He, he, he—]

[Because his superior had an injured eye, and he was known for his exceptionally sharp eyesight, nicknamed “Eagle Eye,” he gouged out his own eye to make medicinal wine and gifted it to his superior on the latter’s sixtieth birthday?!]

[What kind of madness is this?!]

[And that superior actually accepted it with gratitude and was deeply moved?!?]

Princess Wanshou’s hand, hidden within her sleeve, trembled slightly.

She desperately wanted to ask: What on earth is going on in Fujian?! One provincial governor carves erotic images onto his household dishes, and another gouges out his own eye for a promotion?!

And that superior—whoever they are—shouldn’t their first reaction to being gifted a human eyeball be sheer horror?

Xu Yanmiao isn’t wrong. [You’re all insane, aren’t you?!]

Liang Rui: “…”

Thank you. I have nothing left to say.

Suddenly, a voice broke the silence: “Your Highness…”

Princess Wanshou instinctively turned her head, spotting the Prefect of Xinghua returning. Her body jolted, and she reflexively took half a step back.

She knew this man had only harmed himself and had not hurt anyone else. At worst, he was just overly ambitious and willing to go to extreme lengths for a promotion. But still…

Princess Wanshou quietly shuffled back another small step.

The Prefect of Xinghua felt deeply unsettled.

What’s happening? I worked so hard to leave a good impression on Her Highness. She even thought I was devoted to the people and regarded me with favor. So why is she retreating at the sight of me now?

Princess Wanshou steadied herself, forcing a polite smile. “Prefect Gao, what brings you to seek out this official?”

This official?!

Her Highness, who had always treated others with warmth, had never referred to herself so formally before!

The Prefect of Xinghua was beside himself with regret. If only he hadn’t left them for a moment earlier! Could it be that these two officials had said something to the princess?

The Prefect of Xinghua swept his gaze over Xu Yanmiao and Liang Rui, his eyes lingering on Xu Yanmiao for less than a moment.

It can’t be this one—he looks so simple and harmless, like someone who wouldn’t survive long in the bureaucracy!

His gaze finally settled on Liang Rui, his eyes deep with suspicion.

Had he somehow offended this man before?

Author’s Note:

The idea of self-mutilation to curry favor with the powerful is inspired by:

Spring, First Month, Guiyou Day:

The ruler of Shu ascended the Xingyi Pavilion. A monk gouged out one of his eyes and offered it to the ruler. The ruler of Shu, deeply moved, decreed that ten thousand monks be feasted in gratitude. The Hanlin scholar Zhang Ge advised, “A person who mutilates himself without cause has already been fortunate to escape punishment; it is improper to reward him further and thereby corrupt social customs.” The ruler of Shu then rescinded the reward.

— Zizhi Tongjian

(Translation: A monk offered one of his own eyes to the Emperor of Former Shu, who had ascended the throne two years prior. The emperor was touched and ordered a feast for 10,000 monks. A Hanlin scholar, Zhang Ge, advised against it, saying it would set a bad precedent. The emperor then canceled the reward.)

Disabled individuals could also serve as officials in ancient times.

There are several historical examples:

• Sun Bin, who famously strategized despite his disability.
• Xi Ke, who was blind in one eye, served as a chief minister in the Jin State.
• Ji Sun Xingfu, a bald minister from the State of Lu.
• Sun Liangfu, a lame minister of the State of Wei.
• Gongzi Shou, a hunchbacked nobleman.

The last individual, being a noble and not an official, is excluded from the list of “disabled individuals serving as officials.”

“Ji Sun Xingfu was bald, Xi Ke was blind in one eye, Sun Liangfu was lame, and Gongzi Shou was hunchbacked.”

— Guliang Zhuan

In the tenth year of Chunyou in the Song dynasty, the top scholar (zhuangyuan), Fang Mengkui from Yan State, had a lame right foot and was blind in his left eye. He, along with other scholars from his generation—Fang Deng and Fang Ji—were descendants of the Tang poet Fang Gan, who had a cleft lip. The Chuanjianlu Waiji further states that the fourth-ranking scholar of that year, Yang Chao from Sichuan, was also blind in one eye, as was the provincial champion, Chen Yinglei from Quanzhou.

— Songren Yishi Huibian

(Translation: Fang Mengkui, a top scholar in the Song dynasty, was lame in one foot and blind in one eye.)

It is also recorded:

Chen Zuren, blind in one eye, short, skinny, and unattractive, had a clear voice and spoke with remarkable insight and wisdom.

— Yuding Yuanjian Leihan(Translation: The Yuan dynasty’s top scholar, Chen Zuren, was short, blind in one eye, and of unattractive appearance.)